Alfie’s Long Distance Double

It was a 24-hour long distance double, with an international difference, for Lynward Park’s crack young sire Alfred Nobel.

Three-year-old Dark Road won the Prix de la Place Montaigne (7 1/2 furlongs) at Deauville in France last Friday.

Then on Saturday, 14,270km away at Belmont Park, WA, fellow 3Y0 Uptown Funk won the Fast Track To Membership Handicap (1200m).

Dark Road, ridden by the English Derby and Dubai World Cup winning Mickael Barzalona for trainer Patrick Montfort, was having his first start since a debut 3/4-length second to Monsieur Bernard in the Prix Les Alluets Le Roi (one mile) at Maisons-laffitte on April 1.

Uptown Funk, ridden by Shaun O’Donnell for trainer Justine Erkelens, has been in outstanding form with three wins from four starts this preparation.

Alfred Nobel is WA’s leading sire of 2Y0’s and is 12th on the Australian Second Seasons Sires Premiership.